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I'd like to see it go to a goalie. Price has been great but I hate the Habs so I'll go Dubnyk :P

I'm quite the opposite. I'm not a fan of giving the Hart to a goalie to begin with, and especially not this year. It seems like in the NHL right now, it's easier than ever to put up groundbreaking numbers. Steve Mason, who I don't consider an elite goalie, is putting up a .929SV% behind the Flyers defense. I think Price has been excellent this year, but I wouldn't give him the Hart. And although I love Dubnyk's story, if any goalie were to take home the Hart, it has to be Price.

I'd give the Hart to Ovechkin. He's the best goal scorer of our generation, and is having an impressive season. It's just as hard as ever to score goals in the league, and Ovechkin makes it look easy. It's a dogfight to even put up 40 goals (it's quite possible we only see three players pass 40), yet Ovechkin just rolls by 50. Look at his performance against Montreal. He had the best goaltender in the world playing, and Subban slouched all over him all game. He finds away to get by Subban and beat Price ... twice.

With all of that being said, I'm sure Price will take home the Hart. I'd say playing in Montreal and all of his hype has a lot to do with it, but I won't be upset if he wins it. He's had a great year.

Comment

I feel like, because the position is poorly understood and more difficult to assess with stats alone, goalies get a bad wrap. Playing goal is such a different skill to skating anywhere else on the ice. I guess that's why there's a trophy dedicated to it specifically (just like the Rocket Richard dedicated to goal scoring, which belongs to Ovie) but I just feel like it gives people an out to discard goalies from general MVP discussion.

Another thing I don't understand is that people think MVP should be the best player in the league. Given a player only plays on 1 team in a year (typically), the way I understand the term is that it's the player most valuable to his team (even if the team is mediocre). Ovie's been great, but he's got a good supporting cast in Backstrom and the like. Price has been on an island some nights bailing out the Habs single handed. And to the point of the article posted here, you can argue that Dubnyk has done more with less in Minny.

Just to clarify, if it goes to Ovie I'll understand but I wish people would look a little deeper than "who scored the most" or, to be fair "who's got the most saves".

Comment

I feel like, because the position is poorly understood and more difficult to assess with stats alone, goalies get a bad wrap. Playing goal is such a different skill to skating anywhere else on the ice. I guess that's why there's a trophy dedicated to it specifically (just like the Rocket Richard dedicated to goal scoring, which belongs to Ovie) but I just feel like it gives people an out to discard goalies from general MVP discussion.

Another thing I don't understand is that people think MVP should be the best player in the league. Given a player only plays on 1 team in a year (typically), the way I understand the term is that it's the player most valuable to his team (even if the team is mediocre). Ovie's been great, but he's got a good supporting cast in Backstrom and the like. Price has been on an island some nights bailing out the Habs single handed. And to the point of the article posted here, you can argue that Dubnyk has done more with less in Minny.

Just to clarify, if it goes to Ovie I'll understand but I wish people would look a little deeper than "who scored the most" or, to be fair "who's got the most saves".

I agree, this award is often looked at in terms of statistical milestones rather than what it was meant to be, as you described perfectly.

Comment

I think it has to go to Price personally. Montreal would not be anywhere near where they are without him.. Dubnyk hasn't been with his team all season, which is of no fault of his own but still makes it hard for me to select him for the Hart. Everyone knows I love Ovie, but Washington would be more likely to remain a Playoff team without him than Montreal would without Price, in my opinion.